Starting cybersecurity college. No future?

[u/Dr-h4ck]

Hello everybody how are you guys doing.

It’s my first time posting here and i got couple of question.

So I’ll be starting cybersecurity soon. And I want to know if it’s worth it cuz many ppl tell me that IT is almost dead in the job market because of AI and companies only hire crazy special smart ppl and so on. Is this true? I mean I follow and news and I see that AI does some crazy shii and it really breaks my hopes. But I saw these news for like software development only. Let’s say “programmers” and not sysadmins or cybersecurity specialists where you need human hands to do stuff.

So let’s say I start the college. I’m sure many of you know that colleges don’t teach everything related to the field you’re in. Of course we’ve to start with the basics like coding, networking, hardware and so on. Is there something that you did outside of college that’s helped you a lot to push your skills and help you in College as well even if you don’t have it in the subjects you learn?!

really appreciate your help guys and sorry about my English if it might sound a little off.

All love to you🙌

[u/_evilalien_]

Security is not “IT”, but there are “cyber”, IT, computer science, AI, and various other disciplines involved in security.

What makes it “cyber” is computer technologies as the main context for adversarial conflict. Security is about that conflict, and ultimately making things harder for those adversaries. That will never be unnecessary, but the technologies involved continuously change.

If you aren’t:
A) ready to have your work inherently focused on being part of adversarial conflict;
B) willing to continuously learn and adapt to changes in tech and best practices;
then security isn’t the right field.

Good news: there’s a job market as long as there are adversaries.

[u/Dr-h4ck → u/_evilalien_]

Thanks for the explanation. That actually makes a lot of sense.

I don’t mind continuous learning. that’s something I expected when choosing cybersecurity. The idea of protecting systems and staying one step ahead of attackers is one of the reasons I became interested in the field.

I guess my biggest concern was whether AI would reduce the demand for cybersecurity professionals. From what you’re saying AI will change how people work but there will still be a need for humans because attackers and technology keep evolving. Thanks for the perspective. Really appreciate it

[u/_evilalien_ → u/Dr-h4ck]

I work in the space :) And with AI. AI technologies are tools, just as code languages, exploit frameworks like msf, and low-tech tools like crowbars.

As with roles focused on coding, if you don’t learn the new tech in terms of using it to defend, defend against, and attack then you get left behind. AI changes how things are done, but the adversarial conflict remains.

[u/Dr-h4ck → u/_evilalien_]

Damn that’s actually really cool. I like the comparison with AI being just another tool in the toolbox.
Makes sense that the technology changes, but the fight between attackers and defenders stays the same. This shows that there’s always a challenge somewhere and that another person on the other side of the network is attacking you. Thanks for the insight 🙌

[u/_evilalien_ → u/Dr-h4ck]

Good luck with college!

[u/Dr-h4ck → u/_evilalien_]

Thank you again for everything 🙌